"I'm really happy to announce that I am now working on new music and I will be releasing a new album in 2017," she wrote on Christmas Day. "I can't wait to open up and share my heart with you! I'm excited for you guys to hear the new songs. It's going to be an amazing 2017!"

Lavigne, 32, also thanked fans for their "patience & support during my time away through my battle with Lyme Disease," and noted that she's still making it "a priority" to raise awareness and fight the disease through the Avril Lavigne Foundation.

"It hasn't just been a hard battle but it's also been enlightening and will reflect in my new music, artistry, life, and personally," she said.

But the "Girlfriend" singer has turned up for big events, especially ones that are meaningful to her. She has stayed friendly with Kroeger, walking arm-in-arm with him at Clive Davis' pre-GRAMMY gala in February and the Juno Awards in April, as well as hitting the studio with him on numerous occasions. Lavigne even had a girls' night out in Vegas earlier this year, where she hung out with Britney Spears and attended her Piece of Me residency show, and performed her first show in nearly a year at the Special Olympics World Games opening ceremony in July 2015.